2017 Cross du Mont-Blanc — Reviewed
The Cross du Mont-Blanc is a 23km race and it’s part of the famous Marathon du Mont-Blanc. That was my second time doing this race, so my expectations were a bit higher in regards to my performance. Set that aside, these are my thoughts on the Cross du Mont-Blanc.
NOTE: I started to write this review a week after the race. But procrastination got me, until now. This is my “über-late” review.
The course
Starting at the paragliding landing site, the course goes over ups and downs, adding up to the almost 1,700 meters climb reaching the end near the Le Brévent. This is the original course, which in 2016 had its alternate course in place due to bad weather.
This is how they describe it:
Starting from the paragliding landing field the route climbs steadily towards the upper valley, progressively passing through the hamlets of “les Bois” and Lavancher before reaching Argentière (1250m). Runners will bypass the village of Argentière and reach Le Planet by the “chemin des rambles”. Then, you will run on a local road, closed for the event, on 500m to go to Montroc.
Then, you will arrive in the hamlet of Tré le Champ, a pretty village based right before the Col des Montets, from where you will go via the Balcon Sud.
After crossing the magnificent Charlanon comb(1812m) the climb is gentle on a balcony path, with one of the most beautiful views of the Mont-Blanc, to reach Altitude 2000.
Start ⇢ les Bois ⇢ Lavancher ⇢ Argentière
From the paragliding landing field the race starts on wide gravel roads, which are perfect for getting everybody moving without hiccups. I was a bit late to the starting line and found myself way further down the pack that I otherwise would rather not be, making me push a little bit more in the beginning to compensate for my late arrival.
Passing le Bois (around 2.3 km), the roads are not as wide as before. You go through the woods on a soft climb, which also works great as a warmup of what is yet to come.
Arriving at Lavancher — at the 5 km mark — , going through the village and hitting some meadows until the trails get more exciting, narrowing down considerably. This makes it harder to overtake other competitors — specially if you are in the mid–to-back of the field. For me, it’s also the appetiser before the first climb. But once you are over it, you just want to enjoy running in the rollercoaster like woods, descending fast towards Argentière.
Argentière ⇢ Tré le Champs ⇢ Le Bechar
Hitting Argentière it’s time to give the legs another fresh taste of steep trails. But not before being embraced by the locals cheering. Giving you that extra and much enjoyed boost.
Once you fuelled yourself with cheers, get ready to go up to Le Planet and take on the Chemin des Travarchires and Chemin du Planet. It is pure joy running through there and arriving at Montroc, where you run next to the train station, collecting more cheers and jumping back on a trail that goes over the train tunnel and takes you to Tré le Champs.
By now, you are reaching the 12 k mark — at least I was on my watch — , you will be looking forward to reach the first aid station and start the long ascent back to Chamonix. At that point you want to really get your energy fully backed up to 110 % as you climb up to Le Bechar, a true demanding, more “rockish” uphill and at some points narrower than otherwise in the race.
Le Bechar ⇢ La Flégère
Now at the top of Le Bechar it is time to run down basically the same amount you went up. 😅 For me, that is the most fun part of the race: steep descent, more technical and fun terrain to race, with very vivid memory from my previous year running there:
Me, tumbling down a couple meters as I was too eager to “fly” down through the course. No harm was done, I just shaked it off and carried on.
After running down, on tricky trails you are 250 meters lower — as if you never went up to Le Bechar — and 15.5 km in, approaching the longest and perhaps most arduous climb towards La Flégère. A climb that separates those who have any energy left from the ones that waisted it all. You get an extra motivation though, at the top you find the second and last aid station.
The weather this year made it extra tough. Temperatures were around 25–28 °C and humidity was high, making it extra hard to the body.
Luckily, along 16.5 km there is this small waterfall crossing right through the trails, providing a great option to cool down your head and perhaps fill up your soft bottles.
Now with a “fresh” head, the focus is 100 % on reaching La Flégère, you are on the balcony trails — paraphrasing the organisers — and you are still somewhat surrounded by pine trees and other typical vegetation. But once you climbed enough, you notice that the pine trees are left behind and you are facing the ski slopes with La Flégère just in sight. Kid yourself not, you are ±1.2 km away, you need to gain another 186 meters (a 16 % slope), in a hot and humid climate, clocking almost 18 km, one word to describe it: HARD.
La Flégère ⇢ La Charlanon ⇢ Altitude 2000 (Planpraz)
You finally get to the aid station and at this point you are thinking the worst is over — 3.5 km to go. Looking at the course profile, one could really believe that and fall into a certain trap.
Compared to the year before, from this point on it was uncharted territory, in 2016, the bad weather route kicked in and everybody ran down to Chamonix. This year though, warm and damp air was slowly baking my head hot.
Naively enough, I refilled only one of my two bottles thinking it would not take long to the finish line.
Now the Mont-Blanc beast is staring at you and you are looking back to its majestic figure as you go through these hard packed dirt, winding trails, up and down like you are playing on a seesaw reaching La Charlanon, you are not far from home, for real.
That last 200 meters plus climb needs all the energy you have — or don’t — , to power through the wide ski slopes tracks to reach Altitude 2000 and finally in a heart-warming crowd finish line. It will put a smile on any suffered face.
My score: 10 out 10
I think overall these trails area a perfect challenge, increasing very gracefully in difficulty. Demanding a great combination of body and mind skills with spectacular views. A great course with everything you can ask for.
Aid stations
Well, what to say Club des Sports de Chamonix are so seasoned organisers that they manage to provide both aid stations with the perfect amount of food with some chews, chocolate, Coca-Cola, water, fruits and no short of resourceful volunteers.
The finish line station you were welcomed with soda, sweets, water, all the usual suspects + beer!
You get all my appreciation whenever you serve beer after the finish line. 👏🏼
If I were to make one small remark, I would say that they could have sports drink in the aid stations. But more because they had a sports drink as one of the sponsors, so in a way I would expect them to showcase their products along aid stations.
My score: 10 out 10
There was beer after the finish line. Nuff said!
Event organisation
Again another impossible to miss-score them. Flawless organisation, from beginning to end.
- Bib pickup went so smooth, that I decided to invest in a new smaller, lighter vest, which lead me to have to get back to them so they could clear my gear again, all without a glitch.
- The course was properly marked and volunteers were guiding whenever it required to. There was never a doubt which trails to follow.
- Aid stations had enough food and beverage.
- Runners who had bags to be collected after the race had them transported from start to the finish line. I haven’t heard of any problems.
My score: 10 out 10
Everything was awesome, but if — and there is always an “if” — there were one thing I would suggest to improve is the e-mails and website. Sometimes the communication can be a bit confusing with emails half in French and other half in English, would be nice to be able to get an e-mail with the language of my choice. But then again, you are in France, it is part of the charm and having an English translations is better than having nothing at all.
Conclusion
Personally, I think the Cross du Mont-Blanc is the perfect event to further test your endurance. Overall, it gives a good taste of what the pros face in the Marathon du Mont-Blanc.
You get to see spectacular views of the Mont-Blanc and surroundings, the public support and vibe are unique. Chamonix’s embracement and warmth toward this event can be felt throughout the whole town. I can only imagine it surpassed by the UTMB. I’m already looking forward to next year.
Overall score:
Course: 10
Runners aid: 10
Organisation: 10
TOTAL: 30 out of 30 points
“Le film”
Just in time as I — finally — finish writing this review, the organisers posted an awesome video containing some pictures of what you just read here.
